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Click on photographs for full size viewing
These photos were taken sometime during the 1990's and show the Chapel Block prior to the demolition of the remaining Air Force Buildings. The Chapel is the only original 1942 building now remaining on the block. The Chapel is shown prior to restoration.
This April 1960 USAF photograph shows the Chapel block. The Chapel is the L shaped building in the lower left hand corner of the block of buildings.
Tom Vickers a Korean War Veteran and John Walter a WWII B-17 pilot work on the reception area while Ernie Schorr a WWII P-47 pilot puts finishing paint on chapel chairs. Every pew, chair, pulpit, window frame, door or any item in the chapel was repaired and refinished by the hands of the 95ers.
Jeanne Lewellen Norbeck Chapel pews have been refinished and reset in place. The old was stripped out to the bare walls and new put in.
Tom Vickers adding new insulation to the chapel. Exterior walk and landscaping put in near renovation completion.
1997 exterior photo with work on the outside nearing completion. Bob Henry, John Walter and John Hoff working hard on the chapel restoration project. Everyone needs a coffee break!
The stained glass window on the left is one of the twenty-two stained glass windows donated by the Condit Presbyterian Church, Sunbury, Ohio for the "new" 1952 Atterbury Air Force Base Chapel. These windows were designed and crafted by George Misch of Chicago especially for the new (1879) Condit Presbyterian Church. These windows were in place from 1879 until 1904. In 1951, the Atterbury Air Force Base Commander, Colonel William S. Pocock, directed that an available barracks building be converted to a chapel. The base Chaplain, Reverend H. Nathan Frederick, formerly the minister of the Condit Presbyterian Church, was aware that the 1879 church windows had been stored in the church belfry after the 1904 remodeling. The Reverend G. W. Bingaman and the board of trustees of the Condit Presbyterian Church graciously agreed to donate the windows for use in the new Atterbury Air Force Base Chapel. When chapel restoration began in 1995, two of the windows were still installed. Unfortunately both of these windows has suffered substantial damage as a result of time and vandalism. To offset the effect of this damage, it was decided to replace them with two new windows containing the Misch design theme. Judy Braswell was commissioned to recreate the older design using parts from the two original windows, and to create the two new windows. The restored window is framed in walnut salvaged from the First Presbyterian Church of Columbus 1995 remodeling project. This display was designed and crafted by John Walter. Of the twenty-two windows originally sent from Sunbury to the Air Base, the whereabouts of the other twenty is unknown. Efforts to locate them are continuing. Can you help us find these missing stained glass windows?
Wendell Ross and crew installing the chapel plaque and Wendell and Tom Vickers setting up for the chapel dedication ceremony. The chapel was dedicated on Friday May 29, 1998. Some of the special guests were LTC Nathan Frederick USAF (Ret.) the last Chaplain of the 434th Wing at Bakalar Air Force Base, Colonel Betty Mullis, USAF Commanding Officer, 940th Air Refueling Wing, Major General Robert Nester, Mobilization Assistant to the Chief of the Air Force Reserve, Members of the Lewellen family, WASP and 99 members. |
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Bakalar
Air Force Base Chapel
